119,366-Square-Foot Industrial Lease on Lackawanna Avenue

Frank L. Cahill
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119,366-Square-Foot Industrial Lease on Lackawanna Avenue

PARSIPPANY — NAI James E. Hanson announces it has negotiated a lease for 119,366 square feet of industrial space at 75 Lackawanna Avenue. NAI James E. Hanson’s Scott Perkins, SIOR, represented the owner, Bee DIC Realty, in the transaction with the tenant, Commercial Furniture Transport, who was represented by Howard Weinberg of JLL.

75 Lackawanna Avenue

Commercial Furniture Transport is the region’s leader in office furniture installation and delivery, providing efficient and reliable service for businesses throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. With a large client base in New York City, the growing company sought out a large warehouse space that would allow them to continue to efficiently service the New York City market while also promising easy access to customers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Situated in between Interstate 80 and Route 46, 75 Lackawanna Avenue provides the ideal balance between ease of access to New York City as well as to markets to the west and south. The building’s 200,000 square feet of adaptable industrial space ensures that it can accommodate a wide variety of industrial users. In their search for space, Commercial Furniture Transport recognized that 75 Lackawanna Avenue’s location, along with the 24’ ceilings and 18 tailgates present throughout the 119,366-square-foot space provided the ideal home for their business.

“While the Morris County industrial market is one of the region’s smaller markets, it does present companies looking for centrally-located industrial space with an irresistible value proposition,” said Perkins, SIOR, NAI James E. Hanson and Regional Director for NAI Global Logistics. “Through a deep understanding of the benefits of the market and my 30 years of experience in the industrial field, I recognized the unique opportunity this space presented and was able to help my client capitalize on this market and secure a high-quality tenant.”

The transaction at 75 Lackawanna Avenue showcases how Perkins has grown to become one of the northeast’s most-trusted industrial brokers. He stands out as a result of his consistent ability to close industrial deals in the competitive and complex northern New Jersey market, even as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt.

New Jersey Lake Associations Hailing Governor Murphy’s Second Conditional Veto

Frank L. Cahill
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New Jersey Lake Associations Hailing Governor Murphy’s Second Conditional Veto

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey lake associations are hailing Governor Murphy’s second conditional veto of legislation which would have undermined some lake associations’ ability to assess their residents for the maintenance of lakes in a private lake community.

The Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act was amended in 2017, establishing that residents in private communities are members of the association. Attempts to modify PREDFDA to exclude lake associations from its provisions were introduced in 2019 in a bill sponsored by District 24 representatives Oroho, Wirths, and Space, which was conditionally vetoed by Governor Murphy.

The amendments failed to pass in 2019 and were re-introduced in 2020 as S908/A2480, which passed nearly unanimously, with Assemblyman Brian Bergen, an avid supporter of lake associations from District 25, the sole dissenting vote.

The Governor vetoed the legislation recognizing the attempt to shield certain property owners who objected to contributing, but noting that “the interests of these property owners must be carefully balanced against the interests of all other parties, including those property owners who have previously been contributing to their associations.” The Governor emphasized the need to “safeguard the ability of lake associations to collect funds necessary to comply with critical environmental, health, and safety requirements…”

Ernest Hofer, President of the New Jersey Coalition of Lake Associations, praised the Governor’s conditional veto, stating “our lake communities face many challenges in their efforts to maintain their natural resources, and the proposed legislation would have had a potentially devastating effect on some lake communities. It is more important than ever, particularly with the threat of Harmful Algae Blooms, that lake associations can rely on the equitable pro-rata contribution of all of the residents to maintain the lake community in which they live.”

Eight Things Learned About Restaurant Reopenings with Industry Leaders

Frank L. Cahill
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Eight Things Learned About Restaurant Reopenings with Industry Leaders

NEW JERSEY — Three New Jersey industry leaders spoke with Assemblyman Brian Bergen Thursday about what is and isn’t working for restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. The conversation took place through a Facebook Live event that streamed on the NJ Assembly GOP’s Facebook page.

Gov. Phil Murphy initially closed all New Jersey bars and restaurants for eat-in service on March 16 limiting service for takeout and delivery orders only.  On June 15, he allowed restaurants to offer outdoor dining but rolled back plans for indoor dining at 25 percent in early July.

Here are some of the highlights of the discussion with Marilou Halvorsen, president of the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association; Mike Perro, director of operations of P.J Whelihan’s Restaurant Group; and Bob Wagner, managing partner of Ott’s Restaurant Group.

1. Roughly 80 percent of restaurant workers are still unemployed – even after outdoor dining.

Only 23 percent of the almost 300,000 restaurant workers laid off in March has returned to work following the opening of outdoor dining said Halverson.  “So that is a huge number of people who are still unemployed and probably contributing to the unemployment numbers right now.  And they don’t have the extra $600 still coming in.”

2. Curbside pickup almost bankrupted most in the industry.

“We were teetering; we were on the brink,” explained Perro.  “Thank God, outdoor dining came along when it did or we probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now having this discussion.”

Wagner said that there were still dozens of restaurants in his area of Burlington County that operate only with curbside pickup.  “I don’t know how they do it; I really don’t,” he said.  “It’s sad.”

3. Bad weather complicates outdoor dining.

While everyone agreed that outdoor dining has been a lifesaver, operating in the weather-dependent outdoors presents new challenges for restaurant owners struggling to make ends meet.

Frequent thunderstorms over the last few weeks have made many owners give away as much as fifty percent of the meals prepared said Wagner.  “So it’s a lose, lose again,” he said.  “Because of the thunder and lightning, they can’t sit underneath a metal frame tent.”

Also detracting many customers, July was the hottest month on record in New Jersey in 125 years of record keeping.  But worrying restaurants for the future is the upcoming colder weather in the fall or winter.

“I can’t imagine what is going to happen if we can’t have indoor dining over the fall and winter period,” said Perro.  “It is going to a disaster for the industry.”

4. Unfriendly landlords prevent some restaurants from expanding outdoors.

Wagner said bad landlords are hurting many owners he knows.  “Some of these people who are stuck with these landlords and these leases that won’t let them use parts of the parking lot call me up for help and I don’t know what to tell them,” he said, “And these stories are every day that you hear this stuff.”

5. Murphy’s reversal on indoor dining had a catastrophic effect on many restaurateurs.

“It was catastrophic,” explained Halverson.  “They spent tens of thousands of dollars bringing in all their supplies, sanitizing their restaurants, training staff for new protocols and taking people off unemployment – it just created havoc for both employers and employees.”

She hopes that Murphy will sign a bill working its way through the legislature, sponsored by Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick and Senate President Steve Sweeney, that would reimburse restaurants for money spent on food and supplies in the days before restaurants were supposed to be able to open for indoor dining.

6. Neighboring states have reopened indoors safely.

Halverson said that states, such as Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Pennsylvania did not experience an uptick of cases after moving to indoor dining at 25 or 50 percent.  “There is no science to say that restaurants are dangerous,” she said.  “A majority of people know how to do it and do it safely.  And that is real science.”

“There is a precision to how we operate our restaurants under these circumstances,” added Perro who also operates a restaurant in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

7.  Restaurants have some of the toughest safety and cleaning protocols already in place.

Halverson said her industry has safety standards as high as in health care – and certainly higher than retail outlets.  “One of the things we do better than really anybody is the cleanliness,” she said.

8.  Governor Murphy has not met directly with industry experts to discuss options.

Halverson said that her organization talks with his staff on a regular basis but that numerous attempts to meet with the governor have not worked out.

“Maybe if he actually spoke with people like Mike and Bob and other people to really understand and walk him through what we do every day, he would be more comfortable,” said Halverson.  “Unfortunately we were told that he would not meet with us.”

Murphy Signs Executive Order to Mail Every Active Registered Voter a Vote-By-Mail Ballot

Frank L. Cahill
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Murphy Signs Executive Order to Mail Every Active Registered Voter a Vote-By-Mail Ballot

NEW JERSEY — Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order to create modified vote-by-mail (VBM) election for the Tuesday, November 3 General Election. The order suspends the sending of sample ballots and requires that each county’s elections officials send VBM ballots with pre-paid postage to all active registered voters for the General Election. Additionally, every voter will have the option to either return their ballot through a secure dropbox or turn in their ballot at a polling location on Election Day. The Administration is working with the Department of State to implement a new online voter registration system where New Jersey residents will have the opportunity to register to vote. The online system will launch on September 4, 2020.

“COVID-19 has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives, from our health and safety to how we participate in our democracy,” said Governor Murphy. “This virus continues to threaten public health, and with today’s announcement, we are ensuring that New Jersey voters do not have to make a decision between exercising their right to vote and protecting their well-being.”

“Every voter deserves to participate in free, fair, and safe elections,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way.  “By sending every New Jersey voter their ballot in the mail, we are protecting the health of voters, elections workers, and our democracy.”

In order to address the influx of VBM ballots, the executive order will extend the deadline to allow ballots being returned through the United States Postal Service (USPS) with a postmark on or before November 3rd to be counted as a valid ballot by the County Clerk, if received by 8:00 p.m. on November 10th. Ballots without a postmark that are received by the county boards of elections within 48 hours of the closing of polls on November 3rd shall be considered valid.

The executive order will also require a minimum of at least one polling place in each municipality and a minimum of 50 percent of polling places in each county to provide New Jersey voters with access to in-person voting opportunities, including accommodations for voters with disabilities.

All public schools will close for in-person instruction on Tuesday, November 3 to allow counties to use their buildings as polling locations, if necessary. Polling locations will be required to follow public health standards, including ensuring six feet of distance, requiring poll workers to wear face coverings and gloves, frequent sanitization of high-touch areas, and providing sanitization materials to all individuals at a polling place.

Click here to view Executive Order 177.

Census Taker Week Continues

Press Release
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Census Taker Week Continues

PARSIPPANY — As part of the final Get Out The Count effort to ensure that every Parsippany-Troy Hills resident is counted, Census employees will begin knocking on doors of households around the Township that have not yet completed the Census.

Who are Census takers? They are you!

  • Census Takers are members of your community, your neighbors, working to make sure everyone is counted so your community can get its fair share of federal funding and be properly represented.
  • They will offer to help you complete the Census, using an electronic device.
  • If the Census taker who visits your home does not speak your language, you can request a return visit from a Census taker who does speak your language.
  • If no one is home when the Census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

Census takers will follow COVID-19 safety protocols:

  • Census takers will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines when they visit your home.
  • All Census takers completed a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in neighborhoods.

Don’t want an in-person visit? Complete the Census by phone or online!

  • If you’d rather not have your door knocked on just Complete the Census (Click here) or over the phone at 844-330-2020 (English), 844-468-2020 (Spanish), or (Click here) for any of the other languages.

Parsippany Community Update August 14, 2020

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Community Update August 14, 2020

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Food Pantry, located at our community center at 1130 Knoll Road, has been helping residents in need for decades. There has never been a greater need for this service than we’re seeing right now. Our Human Services staff is on hand to explain the food and non-food items we’re currently in need of.

For a more detailed list of needed items click here.

For more information, please call (973) 263-7163.

Parsippany Celebrates Indian Independence Day

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Celebrates Indian Independence Day

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills will honor the 74th Indian Independence with a virtual video celebration, featuring speeches from the civic and religious community, along with many public figures from throughout New Jersey,on Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m.

To mark the beginning of the 74th year of the world’s largest democracy gaining its independence, we will also be raising the Indian flag at Town Hall for all Parsippany residents to see.

This day reminds us that democracy and independence are alive with so many who manifest them, and who seek to spread the message of freedom to the oppressed, vulnerable, and restricted around the world.

A link for the video celebration will be provided here on the day of the celebration, which will be premiered by Video-On-The-Go, on the Township website, and featured on Public Access Channel 21.

Murphy Administration to Open New Jersey’s Schools For In-Person Instruction

Frank L. Cahill
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Murphy Administration to Open New Jersey’s Schools For In-Person Instruction

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Education Interim Commissioner Kevin Dehmer announced that New Jersey’s public and private school districts will be open for in-person instruction for the start of the school year. Public school districts can begin the school year via remote-only instruction if they cannot adequately meet critical health and safety protocols outlined in the state’s school reopening guidance, “The Road Back,” which was released in late June. Districts who need to delay the implementation of in-person instruction will be required to submit information to the Department of Education (DOE) describing the health and safety standards that they are currently unable to adequately meet, how they will address outstanding issues in a timely fashion, and a proposed timeline for reopening physical school spaces to students and staff for in-person instruction.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our students and educators, and we must ensure that schools reopen their doors only when it is safe for them to do so,” said Governor Murphy. “Since releasing our guidance on reopening, we have continued to have frequent discussions with stakeholders and educators across the state. Many districts have expressed that meeting critical health and safety criteria by the first day of school are proving to be a challenge. While we continue to believe that there is no substitute for being in the classroom, allowing districts to delay the implementation of in-person instruction will give them the time and flexibility they need to ensure buildings are ready and welcoming when they do open.”

Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 175, which directed the following for school districts:

  • Districts are required to certify to DOE that they can meet the health and safety protocols outlined in the Order, and further detailed in the “Road Back,” before resuming in-person instruction.  Private school districts will also be required to submit this certification;
  • Districts that can meet the health and safety protocols shall open to students for in-person instruction in the fall;
  • Even if school buildings are open for in-person instruction on the first day of the 2020-2021 school year, districts must provide a remote learning option for parents or guardians who request it for their children;
  • Districts unable to adequately meet health and safety reopening protocols must provide remote instruction to all students. These districts are required to submit documentation to DOE detailing which standard(s) the district is unable to satisfy, the anticipated efforts that will be taken to satisfy the standard(s), and a date by which the school anticipates resuming in-person instruction;
  • All schools required to participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program and those that voluntarily opt-in to those programs must offer required meals to all children on remote-learning days.

The Order also waives the use of student growth data from standardized assessments for this year’s educator evaluations.

“This action reflects our responsiveness to the varying needs and challenges that each district faces as they prepare for the new school year,” said Kevin Dehmer, Interim Commissioner of Education. “We’re providing the flexibility that some school districts may need to ensure that reopening of schools and in-person instruction is done in as safe a manner as possible.”

“We are pleased to say that in East Brunswick we will be able to meet the health and safety standards outlined in the Department of Education guidance and return to our classrooms in the fall, all while keeping our students and staff safe,” said Dr. Victor Valeski, Superintendent of East Brunswick Schools. “While a return to full-time in-person instruction is not possible for East Brunswick Public Schools, we are confident that the hybrid plan we are offering our students will ensure that all students, regardless of where they will be during the school day, receive a high-quality education.”

“While our goal remains to achieve in-person learning, our district determined that there is still much work to be done to ensure the health and safety of students and staff before we reopen our doors for in-person instruction,” said Dr. Neely Hackett, Superintendent of Willingboro Public Schools. “As a community committed to providing Willingboro students with an education grounded in 21st-century thinking and learning, we remain committed and will work toward taking every necessary step to prepare our buildings, students, staff, and parents for in-person learning for the start of the second marking period.”

Executive Order 175 further permits institutions of higher education to resume in-person instruction not previously permitted under Executive Order 155, provided they can meet previously outlined health and safety protocols from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, effective immediately.

“We know how effective in-person learning is as it provides students academic and social supports that cannot be offered as efficiently in remote settings. As colleges and universities restart operations this fall, students will have a wider array of instructional options including in-person, remote, and hybrid learning,” said Interim Secretary of Higher Education Diana Gonzalez. “Regardless of the mode of instruction, our priority is to offer students the best college experience while prioritizing health and safety for all.”

Click here to view Executive Order 175.

Pennacchio Decries Murphy Decision Blocking In-Person Voting

Frank L. Cahill
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Pennacchio Decries Murphy Decision Blocking In-Person Voting

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio called in-person voting a fundamental precept of American freedom and criticized Governor Murphy’s decision to limit the November election to vote-by-mail.

“We’ve gone through the Civil War, two world wars, natural disasters, and depressions and we’ve always managed to vote in person,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “More than anything else, this is political.

“You can stand in line at the MVC and Home Depot with no problem at all, but we’re going to prohibit in-person voting,” Pennacchio continued. “Even Dr. Fauci is on-record saying there is no reason people can’t vote in person.

Governor Murphy delayed the June primary election to July and ordered that it be conducted by mail.

Due to confusion with the mail-in ballot process and well-documented problems with the handling of ballots by the United States Postal Service, many residents have expressed concerns that their votes in the July primary were not counted.

“This is a unilateral decision by the Governor,” cautioned Pennacchio. “Our freedoms are being erased by executive decision, with no rationale, no discussion with the Legislature, and no regard to individual preferences. This is too much power for one person.”

Murphy declared a State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency on March 9, when he signed Executive Order 103. It gives him unbridled authority, according to EO 103, “until such time as it is determined by me that an emergency no longer exists.”

Legislation, SCR-117, introduced by Pennacchio in July, would limit the duration of emergency orders and other rules issued by a governor to 14 days if approved by voters. Extending the declarations would require legislative action.

Montclair State Announces Spring 2020 Dean’s List

Frank L. Cahill
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Montclair State Announces Spring 2020 Dean’s List

MORRIS COUNTY — Montclair State University congratulates Red Hawks named to the Spring 2020 Dean’s List who excelled during an unprecedented semester–including a transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dean’s List, issued after the close of the Fall and Spring semesters by the academic deans, gives recognition to students with a 3.500 or higher semester GPA if a minimum of 12 credits is earned in courses that contribute to the GPA and if there are no IN (incomplete) grades for that semester.

There are 137 students residing in towns served by Focus. They are:

Nick Verducci, Parsippany
Megan Leitner, Lake Hiawatha
Pavlo Busko, Parsippany
Kenneth Hamel, Morris Plains
Giovanna Di Lauri, East Hanover
Amy Albin,  Morris Plains
Meaghan Debenedette, Parsippany
Roqaya Wafa,  Parsippany
Mario Mejia,  Morris Plains
Sunah Choudhry, Boonton
Genevieve Cece,  East Hanover
Alyssa Marino,  Lake Hiawatha
Nabil Mamoor,  Parsippany
Arti Patel,  Parsippany
Margarita Dedes,  Parsippany
John Lee,  Parsippany
Shirley Li,  Parsippany
Goutham Prakash,  Lake Hiawatha
Ruby Murad,  Madison
Joseph Pepe,  East Hanover
Emma Wilcox,  Cedar Knolls
Jeffrey Wear,  Lake Hiawatha
Denise Codner,  Lake Hiawatha
CarolAnn Melia,  East Hanover
Cassidy McCarthy,  Madison
Ally D’Addezio,  East Hanover
Edwin Aguirre-Rosas,  Parsippany
Samantha Sanchez,  Parsippany
Aesha Patel,  Parsippany
Federico Perez-Trasante,  Morris Plains
Fatima Yaqoobi,  Lake Hiawatha
Ashley Rosato,  Florham Park
Brenda Wilson,  Cedar Knolls
Houda Sabeh,  East Hanover
Bridget Murphy,  Florham Park
Nicholas Ezzi,  Boonton
Rachel Klemovitch,  Parsippany
Alfonse Napolitano,  Morris Plains
Manuela Murillo,  Madison
Megan Canzonieri,  East Hanover
Morgan Villopoto,  Parsippany
Iman Shamsudin,  Boonton
Nikki-James Soto,  Parsippany
Lydia Parker,  Parsippany
Bobby Ezzi,  Boonton
Kevin Nikiel,  Morris Plains
Jack Keane,  Morris Plains
Zoe Nolz,  Parsippany
Alyssa Feola,  Lake Hiawatha
Talia Wynzel,  Lake Hiawatha
Emily Maute,  Mountain Lakes
Samantha Sheila Cannen,  Parsippany
Lamis Ahmed,  Parsippany
Jamie Bazaral,  Parsippany
Alexis Bellardino,  Parsippany
Connor Preston,  Lake Hiawatha
Kathrina Ramirez,  Parsippany
Ashley Johnson,  Morris Plains
Kelly Coombs,  Parsippany
Kenny Slaman,  Lake Hiawatha
Michael Papaianni,  East Hanover
Lauren Solano,  Florham Park
Denise Rodrigues,  Mountain Lakes
Marco Arredondo,  Madison
Tom Prokop,  Florham Park
Vraj Patel,  Parsippany
Cassie Bodendorf,  Boonton
Tori Launzinger,  Boonton
James Jacob,  Parsippany
Shalin Patel,  Lake Hiawatha
Mychal Villanueva,  Parsippany
Juliana Barnhill,  Morris Plains
Tatiana Rodriguez,  Parsippany
Kathy Lopez,  East Hanover
Patricia Vanderpool,  Parsippany
Alex Angulo,  Parsippany
Zinab Yaqoobi,  Lake Hiawatha
Lexi Becker,  Boonton
Matthew Moran,  Florham Park
Mariam Wali,  Parsippany
Ajanee McConnell,  Morris Plains
Hamzah Turan,  Parsippany
Larissa Salmeri,  East Hanover
Vidhi Patel,  Morris Plains
Juan Quijano,  Parsippany
Ben Earl,  Lake Hiawatha
Mateo Stephenson,  Florham Park
Gina Decroce,  East Hanover
Yasmine Ashour,  Parsippany
Robert Gillo,  Morris Plains
Timothy Rabel,  Madison
Melinda Cazimoski,  Morris Plains
Allison Hofmann,  East Hanover
Gulsah Akyol,  Boonton
Jared Bazaral,  Parsippany
Gabriella Iacono,  East Hanover
Sarah DiPippa,  Parsippany
Kira Welenc,  Morris Plains
Juan Gomez,  Parsippany
Louis Henderson,  Florham Park
Jenna Pontrelli,  East Hanover
Jaydon Lynch,  Boonton
Michael Rigillo,  East Hanover
Megha Patel,  Parsippany
Kelsie Taylor,  Parsippany
Abigail Fletcher,  East Hanover
Courtney Calabrese,  Parsippany
Suraj Makadia,  Parsippany
Gary Lombardi,  East Hanover
Chris Santucci,  Parsippany
Nadya Almganhi,  Parsippany
Justin Green,  Boonton
David Fleitas-Guillen,  Lake Hiawatha
Bhoomika Vachhani,  Parsippany
Patrick Ferreira,  Florham Park
Mirna Kotb,  Parsippany
Jenna Kalynovych,  Cedar Knolls
Sherilyn Ostlin,  Morris Plains
Matt Chan,  Parsippany
Anna Gomez,  Madison
Juliana DeAngelis,  Morris Plains
Michael Primamore,  East Hanover
Sakae Handerson,  Boonton Township
Neel Patel,  Parsippany
Phillip Metta,  Lake Hiawatha
Daniel Rodriguez,  Parsippany
Joyce David,  Parsippany
Jake Fabyanski,  Madison
Alex Olimpio,  Boonton
Nicole Davino,  East Hanover
Manny Gonsalves,  East Hanover
Tony Piccininni,  Parsippany
Julia Krevis,  Boonton
Audrey Huang,  Morris Plains
Cecilia Blanco,  Parsippany
Nina DaCosta,  East Hanover
Kayla Bush,  Morris Plains

Montclair State University is a research doctoral institution ranked in the top tier of national universities. Building on a distinguished history dating back to 1908, the University today has 11 colleges and schools that serve 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, masters and baccalaureate programs. Situated on a beautiful, 252-acre suburban campus just 12 miles from New York City, Montclair State delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university in a supportive, sophisticated, and diverse academic environment.

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